Superb Carrigaline brush Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh challenge aside

Jack McCarthy, Carrigaline, puts pressure on the shot of Ben Seartan, Beal Atha'n  Ghaorthaidh. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

Cork Senior AFC: Carrigaline 1-18 Bèal Átha 'n Ghaorthaidh 1-10 

League winners Carrigaline got their championship off to a perfect start at Kilmurry on Saturday evening. 

They produced a real show of strength in brushing Bèal Áth An Ghaorthaidh aside with enough dash to serve notice to both Cill na Martra and Kiskeam that they have eyes on another big prize.

Carrigaline were superb to a man, particularly in the opening half when playing with a stiff breeze. 

Inside three minutes they had three points on the scoreboard from brothers Niall and Brian Coakley and the excellent Kevin O’Reilly.

Even if Ben Seartan did reply for Bèal Átha, they were so wasteful and had to wait until the 19th minute for a second as Carrigaline piled on the scores.

Leading 0-6 to 0-1 after the opening quarter, with Bèal Àtha keeper Darren Ò Coill also making a fine 13th minute save from O’Reilly, there was no stopping a rampant Carrig side. 

Niall Coakley kicked another beauty and new man, Cork senior Brian O’Driscoll landed two more and it was 24 minutes before the winners had their first wide as they led 0-11 to 0-2 with a real show of strength to a man.

O’Reilly and O’Driscoll, always in the thick of the action, tacked on two more points and it was 0-13 to 0-3 at the break and Michael Meaney’s men were looking good with Bèal Átha kicking eight wides.

But there is always a fight in Bèal Átha and within three minutes of the restart they showed what they can do.

First, Ben Seartan kicked a point and then set up brother Donagh for a super goal, and suddenly it game on again. 

But Carrigaline were well up for the challenge as some super O'Reilly points had them 0-16 to 1-6 in front entering the final quarter.

Ben Seartan reduced the gap with another point, but 47 minutes into a lively contest it was game over as Niall Coakley set up his brother Brian for a goal that was always coming.

Bèal Ātha did finish the game strongly with Sean O Luasa, Conchûir Ó Loinsigh on target Carrigaline were easy winners with a really strong performance that pleased boss Michael Meaney.

“There’s been a lot of talk about our league title win but today is the day we wanted to prove ourselves. There are still aspects of our game we can improve on but today was our bread and butter and we wanted to impress.

“Certainly 1-18 and just two wides is impressive but we have put in a lot of work and it bore fruit today. What was most pleasing was the way we responded after their goal, the way we retained the ball and drove on. That was very pleasing.” 

Scorers for Carrigaline: N. Coakley 0-6 (0-2 frees), B. Coakley 1-2, K. O’Reilly 0-5, B. O’Driscoll 0-3 (0-1 free), A. Cohalen and D. Griffin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Bèal Átha: B. Seartan 0-5 (0-3 frees), D. Seartan 1-1, C. Ò Loinsigh 0-2, S. Ò Tuama and S. Ò Luasa 0-1 each.

CARRIGALINE: S. Mellet; N. Quirke, I. Sheerin, K. McCarthy; K. Kavanagh, C. O’Herlihy, J. McCarthy; B. O’Driscoll, D. Griffin; A. Cohalen, B. Coakley, E. Ryle; D. Greene, N. Coakley, K. O’Reilly 

Subs: N. O’Keeffe for O’Driscoll (bs 12 mins), E. Landers for B. Coakley (47m).

BÈAL ÁTH AN GHAORTHAIDH: D. Ò Coill; S. Ô Donnchù, C. Ô Duinnín, D. Ô Ceallachàin; D. Seartan, E. Ò DuinnÍn, N. Ò Laoire: S. Ò Luasa, D. Ò Briain; M. Ò Riordàin, C. Ô Loinsigh, S. Ò Muineachàin; L. Ò Críodàin, S. Ô Tuama, B. Seartan.

Subs: G. Ō Tuama for N. Ò Laoire (ht), C. Ò Tuama for Ô Ceallachàin (45m), L. Seartain for Ô Críodáin (53m), D. Ô Ceallachàin for Ò Riordàin (55m).

Referee: Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).